"Shootin' With The Snapshot"
by Eric Simms

This weekend I decided to go the FULL THROTTLE SHOW in Brick, NJ. I got there early and saw a few of boys preparing for the show later that night. I was going to vend there but I got a bad feeling that there was going to be a light crowd. Not to mention that my girlfriend who I happened to bring with me was getting bored. I compromised with her and we left to go to the shore. Seaside was starting to get crowded but we walked around I got a massage from the shiatsu people, we played skeeball which I happened to be good at and 3 hours later we left to go back to the show. I got there during Chris Candido's match with Danny Doring. Both put on a great match as it looked like they were having a ton of fun in the ring. Once I walked in and said hello to Tammy I guess Chris saw me from the ring as it was so small in there and started an ESS chant. Tammy and I were laughing. I stayed for the remainder of the show which was quite good. Mike Kruel and Striker had a great match. The sat and Jay Lethal and Quiet Storm had a good match as well. I hate spot matches but this match looked crisp and all did well in there. Balls and Johnny Candido was good and the finals of Kruel vs Doring was good as well. If it were me I would have liked to see Candido vs Kruel but that's just my taste. Kruel went over. I think he is a great talent and will make it sometime in the near future.

This was supposed to be a New Japan showcase card with reps from New Japan there scouting for new talent. Personally I think it was a scam. There was an american rep for the Inkoki Dojo there by the name of Kevin Quinn. Personally I have never heard of him and there was no Japanese reps there. I hope everyone didn't get there hopes up that they will be seeing New Japan anytime soon. Plus it was a way for the promoter to get guys to work for free or token gas money. The headliner names got paid but I am not sure about the undercard. Plus if New Japan is interested I am sure they have other means of scouting talent at established promotions shows ( ECPW,WXW,JAP,USA,JCW,NWS,CZW ). Outside of that it was a good worked card at least what I saw in the second half. One last thought I have is the US New Japan Dojo is in California and that is where everyone will wind up before going to Japan. Remember this is not Zero One where you have Steve Corino an American boy booking for them bringing over talent.

My girlfriend was telling me how well Tammy looked. She said she likes her look now better than when she was on top. She said Tammy looked a lot healthier and I agreed with her. I also think she feels a lot better where she is at now. As far as Popeye Candido goes I believe June will be a big month for him. He is a great talent and it showed in front of 47 fans as he was having fun in the ring entertaining everyone. I have always said that he is the best out there.

In last weeks column I stated how I liked angry Matt's column the week before about respect and protocol in the lockerroom. While his column was very good it only touched on a small part of the problem. The other part of the problem is protocol outside of the lockerroom. I have noticed something's at certain shows but a gross violation of the " code " happened at the most recent UWA show. Before I go off on a tangient let me state that I do not hold UWA or Frankie Starz responsible but they need understand what I am about to say and implement these rules as well as other promotions. Just keep in mind that there were was bad circumstances at UWA but some common sense could prevent this from happenening next time. Just for the record the UWA show was very hot and there was really only 1 way out. What I witnessed was face and heels mingling with each other outside with the fans. I am from the old school and have old school values which will never change. That is a gross violation of the " code " or for the insiders the term would be " kayfabe ". This is a place ( different promotions ) where you work. Do not shit where you eat. Have a little respect for your job. Even though this may be a hobby or a second job or the only job you have, show some respect and follow the rules. I also noticed some wrestlers sitting in the arena with the fans or in the back on the main floor socializing with other wrestlers, again this is a violation not to mention disrespectful to the perfomer in the ring. If you want to watch a match do it from the lockerroom or a designated area away from the fans. A simple solutions at the UWA show would of been that at intermission to get some fresh air, faces go to one side of the entranceway to the building and heels on the other side. Then you can talk and sign autographs for the fans. In the old days if you violated the " code " there was a risk of getting shot on in the ring or even getting blackballed. Sometimes the promoter would go to kick your ass as well. You don't think BIll Watts tolerated any of this stuff.

If anyone has a questions about proper protocol first ask the promoter and then talk to a veteran or the lockerroom leader for advice. A little common sense goes a long way.

Another thing I noticed is that wrestlers write columns bad mouthing one another. It's one thing when the internet reporters write about the matches and have there own opinions which is now common place but I think wrestlers need to be a little more reserved. In the old days if you did something that was considered a violation there was hell to pay and you new it. Today that doesn't exist that much or at all. Again with a little common sense and respect things could be different.

Finally, everyone loves fake posting but it has gotten out of hand. This is a place where the people in the business no matter what role they have whether it be wrestling, ring crew, merchandising or whatever work. A little respect goes a long way. You would not want us to come to your real job outside of wrestling and post on your company email that you slept with a co worker or that you did something that wasn't true that could cause problems for you at your real job.

FINAL THOUGHTS

A great FTW show at least work wise with some top talent on it.

A little common sense and respect goes a long way as far as following " code ".

Eric Simms
ESS316@aol.com
www.esspromotions.com